Oooh, Smilingcat, that is one very cool car! 300 mpg, solar cells on the roof, heat pumps for the climate control, recycled plastic interior.... why didn't I think of that!?
http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...s/4237853.html
There's a Corbin Sparrow in my neighborhood, sometimes I see it parked around. Think I'd rather have the Aptera than a Corbin. The Corbin is more like a motorcycle while the Aptera is more like a car.
"If Americans want to live the American Dream, they should go to Denmark." - Richard Wilkinson
no one has comment on FIT interior noise? yes/no?
someone already said it was noisy. grrr. i was hoping on getting one and background noise drives me crazy.
I guess i'll have to test ride one; it might be a lot better than what I'm used to.
We have a Honda Element and a Honda Civic Coupe- both a couple years old.
They both get about 5 mpg less than what is trumpeted in the ads. But still, good mileage.
Great cars.
We fit our two road bikes standing upright in the back of the Element, clamped by the forks. Or, we can just bungy them to the sides, upright inside, without even taking any wheels off. We never have the back seats in at all, since our kids are grown and gone. Great to haul bags of mulch and such...and i LOVE the NO RUGS thing! We sleep in it for camping- the back can hold a 6 foot foam mattress when you push the front seats forward.
My Civic coupe (2 door) is a cool little sporty sleek thing with plenty of power, but because of it's sleek aerodynamic design it's a bit cramped in the back seats, and visibility could be better when backing up or checking backwards.
It's a good car for me. DH drives the Element most of the time.
Lisa
My mountain dulcimer network...FOTMD.com...and my mountain dulcimer blog
My personal blog:My blog
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Mine isn't noisy either, unless you are referring to my kids having the music up too loud.![]()
In the Element, with both seats down in their passenger position, you can fit two bikes (front wheels removed) crossways in the back. You have to put the bars on opposite ends. Mountain bikes are harder, but they can be done, too, and you can't put anyone in the back seats unless they don't mind riding ramrod straight up.
With one seat folded up and one seat in the passenger position, you can put at least two bikes with front wheels on beside the seat. With that seat removed, you can put three (but not my husband's, without the front wheel off).
When I haul my bike to my weekly group rides, I usually just fold the rear driver's side seat up, roll my bike in and bungee it to the the carabiner that holds the seat up (as depicted above). Right now that seat is just out, because there are only 3 of us, and I rarely need the 4th one.
ETA: I don't bother strapping down like in the picture above. I just put a bungee around the top tube, and attach to the thing that holds the seat up. The bike usually raises up on its rear wheel a little depending on the bungee that's available, then it's just safely hanging there.
Karen
Last edited by Tuckervill; 05-16-2008 at 10:51 AM.
The bungee trick works for 2 bikes - more than that, and it gets a little...challenging
CA
Most days in life don't stand out, But life's about those days that will...
When we test drove the fit, my hubby and I had to raise our voices significantly to have a conversation in the front seat, sitting right next to each other, on the freeway, As in , practically shouting at each other.
This was a real disappointment to us. It pretty much killed the sale. The available trim levels were just not what we were looking for.
wow! this is impressive! (honda element)
lisa, can you actually fit a bike (with front wheel removed) behind the backseat? Or is there no seating when bikes are loaded? just curious...
...never met a bike that I didn't wanna ride.
Like I said:
We never have the back seats in at all, since our kids are grown and gone.
I have never tried loading in the bikes with the back seats still in the car. We don't use the Element back seats...hardly ever. The element is either: hauling stuff / hauling bikes / or we're camping/sleeping in it. It's not our 'passenger car'- that's our Honda Civic coupe.
We can put our two road bikes in the back, standing up, both with and without removing bike front wheels.
Last edited by BleeckerSt_Girl; 05-16-2008 at 10:11 AM.
Lisa
My mountain dulcimer network...FOTMD.com...and my mountain dulcimer blog
My personal blog:My blog
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You could get 1, maybe 2 in with one back seat down. I don't think you could fit anything behind the seats. With the seats out, you could easily fit 4-5 bikes with all wheels on...
Most days in life don't stand out, But life's about those days that will...